Flora of New Zealand Series

Soft-leaved, densely tufted perennials 45-90 cm, occasionally very shortly rhizomatous. Leaf-sheath distinctly ribbed, becoming keeled above, usually with long soft hairs. Ligule 1.5-3.5 mm, truncate to rounded and ± erose, short- to long-ciliate, abaxially minutely pubescent and often with longer hairs. Leaf-blade 12-24 cm × 5.5-8.5 mm, flat, soft, loosely hairy, long-narrowed to fine tip. Culm erect or spreading, rather slender, hairy at, and near nodes, internodes otherwise glabrous. Racemes 8-18 cm, erect or nodding with spikelets slightly to closely overlapping on slender rachis; pedicels 0.5-1 mm, shortly pubescent. Spikelets 2-4.5 cm, 4-12-flowered. Glumes lanceolate, acute to acuminate, sometimes shortly awned, firm, pilose especially above near margin; lower 6-9 mm, 5-7-nerved, upper 7-11 mm, 7-(9)-nerved. Lemma 9-11.5 mm, 7-nerved, oblong-lanceolate, subcoriaceous, abaxially with short, stiff hairs, adaxially glabrous; awn 10-15 mm. Palea ≤ lemma, oblong, keels stiff-ciliate, apex truncate, shorter-ciliate. Anthers 2.8-3.8 mm. Caryopsis 6-7 × 0.6-1.2 mm. Fig. 13.

N.: North and South Auckland (Whangarei, Auckland City, Tauranga), Hawkes Bay (Yeoman's Track, east foot of Ruahine Range, Tikokino); S.: Marlborough (near Kaikoura, and seaward Kaikoura Range). Lowland to montane in shade of trees or shrubs.

Naturalised.

Indigenous to Europe, temperate Asia and north-western Africa.

Fig. 13 Brachypodium sylvaticum S, spikelet, × 5; G 1, G 2, glumes, × 7; L, lemma ventral view, × 7; P, palea dorsal view, × 7; Lo, lodicules, × 14; O, ovary, styles and stigmas, × 14; St, stamens, × 14. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X7G]